Product Description

This polemical book examines the concept of sustainability and presents a critical exploration of its all-pervasive influence on society, arguing that sustainability, manifested in several guises, represents a pernicious and corrosive doctrine that has survived primarily because there seems to be no alternative to its canon: in effect, its bi-partisan appeal has depressed critical engagement and neutered politics. It is a malign philosophy of misanthropy, low aspirations and restraint. This book argues for a destruction of the mantra of sustainability, removing its unthinking status as orthodoxy, and for the reinstatement of the notions of development, progress, experimentation and ambition in its place. Al Gore insists that the debate is over . Here the auhtor retorts that it is imperative to argue against the moralizing of politics.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #189980 in Books
• Published on: 2008-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 156 pages

Review
'A well argued humanist alternative to the present conformist consensus - a very persuasive contribution by a thoughtful subversive.' Frank Furedi, Professor of Sociology at University of Kent, and author of 'Politics of Fear' and 'Where Have All the Intellectuals Gone' 'A much needed diagnosis of the bleak anti-human pathology sometimes described as environmentalism' Dominic Lawson, columnist for The Independent 'Austin Williams has a gift for lobbing well-directed grenades.' Philippe Legrain, author 'Immigrants: Your Country Needs Them' "This is not a book about climate change, which is refreshing. It's too easy to see environmentalism as a political movement that has fenerated its own momentum, albeit preying on fears by amplifying facts from environmental science. Instead, the book shows that it is 'the poverty of amition in political life' that the dynamic driving the sustainability agenda." Ben Pile, Culture Wars. 'Serve[s] as a corrective to unthinking acceptance of green arguments'. David Lorimer, Network Review (Summer 2008) "Offers some interesting insights and questions to explore if we are to properly understand the stranglehold sustainability has over society ... and how we might cut loose from it. For those excited about the potential of humanity to shape the world, Williams' book is a refreshing and useful polemic'. Tony Gilland, IPA review (september 2008) "Williams ... identifies radical environmentalists as 'enemies of progress' who have fundamentally turned away from human development and advancement'. Peter Pesic, TLS (September 19th, 2008) "Whatever your opinions on building sustainably, this book is a must-read, questioning themarch towards carbon zero and giving a refreshing alternative to the green agenda." Lucy Dixon, Professional Housebuilder and Property Developer (October 2008).

About the Author
Austin Williams is an architect and journalist. He writes regularly in the Daily Telegraph.

Customer Reviews

Anti Miserabilists have a voice
Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant - I keep reading out bits to colleagues and friends to counter the latest sheep like drift into policy without challenge. About time someone spoke out against those miserable finger pointing zealots with their spurious sense of moral superiority. If this opens up the debate then we will all owe Austin Williams our gratitude Every page evokes 'let me read you this bit' as the book shows up the absurdity of the 'enjoyment police".

Powerful polemic
Brilliant riposte to unthinking environmentalism. This is the sort of entertaining and illuminating polemic that makes you think again - sharper. As me-too sustainability 'commitments' spread through business, this is a hugely useful challenge to complacent and unprogressive thinking.

Mildly entertaining but unpersuasive attack on the new orthodoxy
This book champions the benefits of industrialisation for developing countries and the rights of consumer free choice over the concerns of today's environmentalists. It opposes environmental legislation, and sees environmental advocacy as the new orthodoxy. Architecture is a particular focus of interest. The book comprises selected quotations, examples and commentary aimed at humorously exposing environmentalist excesses. This makes it an easy, even amusing, read, at some cost to the coherence of the analysis. By arguing that progress is a political rather than scientific issue, Austin fails to challenge the underlying environmental analysis or address widespread concerns over climate change, resource depletion and environmental degradation. Ultimately, the fundamental arguments of modern environmentalism aren't seriously challenged.